Building unit



May 5, 1931. J, W, WARREN 1,804,292

BUILDING UNIT Filed May 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 5 1931 YJ. w. WARREN 1,804,292

BUILDING UNIT l Filed May 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 5, 1F31 nearer erste-a BUILDNG UNET Application filed May 23, 1930. Serial No. 455,089.

My invention relates to tile building units or blocks, and more particularly to a new and useful type of coping tile adapted to be used in the upper course of a. masonry structure or in the drain r shed course of a wall.

A primary obj ect of the invention is to provide a unit having at its longitudinal ends, or elsewhere as required, integral joint portions adapted to interlock with the opposite joint of an adjoining unit, and to be closely united thereto without the use of interposed mortar or the like.

Another obj ect is to provide a unit which when interfitted with a similar unit without the use of mortar or the like, will provide a rainproof joint, eectually protecting the material in the wall beneath from disintegration by rain water.

A further object is to provide units of the character indicated which will, when placed in operative position, assimilate all normal contraction and expansion from heat and cold.

A further object is to provide a unit which may conveniently be made from natural stone, concrete, ordinary clay, or similar plastic material, and which will be light, economical and efficient.

While the unit which forms the subject of this application for Letters Patent is particularly useful as an element of a wall coping, it is to be understood that the invention relates especially to the interiitting ends ofa tile or building block, the body portion of which may be variously formed and shaped for a variety of purposes and uses, including .disposition inY the interior courses of a wall, pavement, floor, etc. Consequently the invention which is described and claimed herein is not to be considered as limited to embodiment in tiles or blocks adapted to be used only in the construction of copings.

Other and further objects of my present Vinvention will be apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following speciiication, in which the details of the invention in one form of embodiment are pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application for Letters Patent,

Figure l is a top plan view of a unit constructed accordinoto the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottoni plan view of the unit shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the unit showing one of the interlocking ends;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the opposite end of the unit shown in Fig'. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper portion of an end wall showing a pair of units in operative position thereon; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view with one end in section of the upper portion of a walil showing a pair of units formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, in intertted relation.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figure l, the reference numeral l indicates the body portion of a unit, which is conveniently formed of any suitable material, such for example as natural stone, concrete, clay, terra cotta, or the like. For convenience in handling, and economy of material, the underside of the body portion is preferably recessed, as shown at 2.

The interlitting drain portions which constitute the essence of the present invention are formed on the longitudinal ends of the body l, and are preferably made integral therewith. The normal unit made acc-ording to the principles of this invention, i. e., one which is to be received between a pair of similar units, as shown in Fig. 6, is provided vvith a male end 3, and an opposite femaleend 4. e

The male end consists in an extension having a lower surface Hush with the under surface of the body l, and a pair of inclined upper surfaces 5 and 6, which meet in an apex 7, substantially below the upper surface of the body l. 95

The inclined upper surfaces 5 and 6 of the male end are each provided with a rela- Vtively shallow channel 8 and 9 respectively The female portion at the opposite end of the body comprises a recess 10, bounded by surfaces 11 and 12 of the body, which meet in a vertex 13 and conform in their angular inclinati-on with the surfaces and 6 of the male end 3. Similarly, the depth of the recess is equal to the thickness of the extension constituting the male end.

At the female end of the body 1, channels 14 and 15 are provided, each in the rear respectively of the surfaces 11 and 12, in such a way that channels 1% and 15 of the female end of one unit are adapted respectively to receive surfaces 5 and 6 ofthe male end of another similar unit, as best shown in Fig. 5.

The under surface of the body 1 is provided, near the outer surfaces thereof, with a pair of longitudinal grooves 16, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The maf.: end 3 is provided, in the under surface theerof, with an indentation 17 to facilitate handling of the unit. A smaller indentation 1S is also provided in the under surface of the portion 3 immediately adjacent to the lower pr t of the inclined surface G. The purpose of this indentation will be hereinafter explained.

In applying the units to operative position, upon the top surface of a wall such as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a thin T-routing of mortar is first placed along the edges of the wall. The units are then set upon this grouting with their end portions interlitted as shown in Figures 5 and 6, in a` manner which will be obvious. 1 prefer in practice to make the units of a width slightly greater than that l of the wall with which it is to be used, so p that the sides of the umts will overhang the wall slightly, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

` The endmost unit of the wall is conveniently provided with one plane end portion 19, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is to be remembered that in interiitting a pair of units no grouting is used in the joint. Then rain water or the like falls upon the upper face of a pairof interiitted units, some quantity thereof will penetrate into the joint space until it reaches the channel 8 or 9 of the male vportion 3. Since the floors of the channels are below the level of the end face of the extension constituting male end 3, the water will be prevented by the surfaces and 6 from escapingfrom the channels 8 and into the body of the wall, and will necessarily find its way by gravity down. along ithe channels 8 and 9 to issue from the end thereof.

The base or floor of each of the channels 8 and 9 is spaced sufficiently from the adj acent surface 1d and 15, respectively, of the cooperating recessed or female end to prevent capillary a taction between these surfaces. Water penetrating to this portion of the joint is therefore carried down the inclined channel by force of gravity alone and delivered out of the unit at one or the other side face thereof.

The channels 8 and 9 extend toward the sides of the tile body and terminate beyond the vertical planes of the wall which the tiles are intended to cover. 1n the embodiment of the invention which l have illustrated in the accompanying drawings', the channel 8 terminates in the rear side wall of the body 1 and the channel 9 in the base thereof, but it is to be understood that the precise location of the ends of these channels is immaterial to iny invention, although 1 prefer that the unit-'be so designed t iat wate in the channels will be discharged at points beyond the planes of the wall on which the units are positioned, and .,ieyond the groove 16 or indentation 18 in the body of the tile. The effect of this construction is to cause water in the channels to be positively shed at the end of the channels, and dropped out of contact with the wall, the groove 16 and indentation 1S preventing drops held against the under surface of the unit by capillary attraction from moving inwardly to wet' the wall.

Each unit is preferably provided with one male and one female end, but it will be appreciated that the invention maybe embodied in different u its formed respectively with tivo male ends and two female ends. 1n the latter embodiment of the invention the wall or coping course is built up of alternate double male units and double female units, the interttiirgl drain portions of adjacent units cooperating exactly as inthe case of the preferred form of the invention where each unit carries a male and a female end.

1 have illustrated and described my present invention in only one form of embodiment `merely by way of exemplification. 1t is to vbe understood that the invention is capable of embodiment in other and different modifications, but all such modifications, to the extent that they embody the principles of the invention, are to be deemed within the scope and purview of the appended claims.

That I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A building unit comprising a body portion, an extension at one end thereof of smaller area than the end of the body'poi tion adapted to fit in a complementary recess in another unit, having a pair of downwardly inclined upper surfaces and a channel in each of the upper surfaces of the extension.

2. A building unit comprising a body portion having an extension at one end thereof ofsmaller area than the end of the body portion and having a pair of downwardly inclined upper surfaces, and a recess in the opposite end of the body portion complemental in shape with the extension.

3. A building unit comprising a body portion having an extension Yat one end thereof Cfr of smaller area than the end of the body portion provided with a pair of downwardly inclined upper surfaces and a channel in each of said surfaces, said body being provided at its opposite end with a recess conforming substantially to the shape of the projection.

4. A building unit comprising a body portion having an extension at one end thereof of smaller area than the end of the body portion provided with a pair of downwardly inclined upper surfaces and a channel in each of said surfaces7 said body being provided at its opposite end with a recess conforming substantially to the shape of the extension and having a drip indentation in its under surface between the end of the channel and the longitudinal axis of the body.

5. A building unit comprising a body portion, an extension at one end thereof adapted to fit into a complementary recess in another unit, said extension having a downwardly inclined upper surface provided with a channel drain for conducting water to the side of the unit, the base of the channel drain being spaced a substantial distance from the adjacent surface of the complementary recess.

6. A building unit comprising a body portion, an extension at one end thereof adapted to it into a complementary recess in another unit, said extension having a downwardly inclined upper surface provided with a. channel drain for conducting water to the side of the unit, a portion of the channel dra-in being spaced suiliciently from the adjacent surface of the recessed unit to prevent capillary attraction on water between said surfaces.

ln testimony whereof l aiiX my signature.

JOHN WRIGHT WARREN. 

